More than 20 firefighters were called to the Blue Lagoon, in Gordon Street, last Friday when a blaze broke out about 1pm.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire, but owner Simone Varese says he has workmen ready to start on repairs once the investigation is closed.

He said: "As soon as they give us the go-ahead, all my workmen are ready to go and will work round the clock to get us open.

"Some shops hit by fire are closed for six months because they wait on insurance coming through. We are determined to re-open as soon as possible.

"The men who do all our work know how important it is for us to get opened again, and they have been fantastic, with meetings through the weekend."

The Gordon Street chippie has been open since 2004 and is one of 13 branches in Scotland of the family-run chain. Mr Varese has been managing them for 30 years.

Six appliances attended the chip shop fire next to Central Station, with smoke seen streets away.

The building had to be fully evacuated and a woman was taken to hospital after breathing in smoke.

Mr Varese said the 15 staff who work in the Gordon Street branch had been moved to other shops or were on holiday.

He added: "Providing we get opened within the timescale, we can absorb all that and keep them employed in the meantime.

"I am optimistic we will be able to open in four weeks."

fiona.mckay@ eveningtimes.co.uk